By New £8m YMCA taking shape on Freeman Street
A new £8m YMCA is taking shape on Grimsby’s Freeman Street at part of the regeneration works.
The works have been hailed as the start of the multi-million pound regeneration of the town’s East Marsh.
Plans for a £20million community football stadium have also been proposed next door.
The first steel frames of the 74-bed facility have been erected by contractors RG Carter of Lincolnshire.
YMCA leaders say the new Freeman Street hostel will replace the current facility on Peakes Lane, Grimsby.
The building will include a health and wellbeing centre, cafe, gym and conference and exhibition rooms.
Bosses hope that this will put the YMCA at the heart of the community, and provide high-quality, aspirational accommodation for young people.
The new space will also provide 74 high quality residential units, and the ground floor of the building will serve the local area with a community cafe.
Debbie Cook, Chief Executive at YMCA Humber said:
“YMCA Humber is proud to be leading the way, investing heavily in the regeneration of Freeman Street and the town.
“We have worked extremely hard this past year to develop this wonderful building which will provide inspirational supported accommodation to the area’s young people together with outstanding community facilities.
“YMCA Humber has attracted grants of over £4m towards the Scheme and will be borrowing some £3.5m to add to the £470k it has already spent developing this scheme for Grimsby.
“I am very proud of what we’re doing and hope the community will continue to support our vital work for this community.
“YMCA Humber in Grimsby is remembered by many, as a place for community involvement, YMCA has been working in Grimsby and the surrounding area since 1882.
“The organisation will reconnect with the heart of the town following the move to Freeman Street.”
Works were due to have got underway at the end of March, but were delayed due to the coronavirus crisis.
It is now gathering pace with the frame of the facility going up, changing the landscape of where a row of shops once stood.
Construction of the new facility is expected to be completed in September 2021.
North East Lincolnshire Council contributed £500,000 towards YMCA Humber.
